Mark Blanchard's Power Yoga

09/01/10

the best yoga!

by ashleydturner

I feel like I was never doing real yoga until I went to this studio. It's such a great and therapeutic environment and you can go at your own pace. I particularly love Noelle's class, but get there early b/c the space fills up soon!

08/05/10

pure yoga with no crap.. FINALLY!!

by hotyoga

SO I finally found a studio in valley that doesn't have the nonsense that seems to be ALL OVER the L.A. Yoga scene and I am in LOVE!! Here, it's all about yoga and family. That's it. Do what you can do and YES, MY FRIENDS you will be challenge but you won't have some teacher telling you "grab your block, strap, wall, hook, umm.. sledghammer, belt, towel.. uhhh whatever it takes to get into the pose!".. ugh. They give you modifications for the poses you can't do and the studio is small enough that everyone is kept an eye on especially if you tell them you are new. I've seen several students walk in BRAND NEW to yoga and in Mark's class and he tells them "dude, just touch your ankles-it's OKAY" Whatever "level" any of us students are at we are all getting an insane workout and in an awesome meditation at the end. Some of my favorite teachers are Mark-he's awesome.-his wife, Elizabeth, Milena (lovely!) -she's a 101 class (there are 3 of these a week!) and Grace..I do like Noelle but a lot of hoping around for me. The studio is a family.. seriously they all just love each other and I remember it was like my fourth class and 2 of the female teachers were talking and everyone joined in and then I joined in.. and the next thing you know.. if was coffee at Aroma time.. this studio shouldn't be missed! oh yes, park in the

07/17/10

Great studio

by twinklewondrkid

Plain and simple, this studio changed my life. I have always loved yoga but could never find classes that were challenging enough. I did bikram for over a year, settling for migraines after every class and rude instructors, just because I wanted to at least sweat in a class! If I'm going to yoga, I want a physical and mental work out, not a yawnfest.

Enter Mark Blanchard's Power Yoga. Never have I experienced such a sense of love and community in a studio. Mark and Elizabeth employ skilled, caring instructors who will push you to your limit but stop to help you along the way (my faves are Grace, Noelle and Beau). When I first came to the classes I thought I'd never be able to get into the headstands, arm balances, etc. but less than a year later I'm doing them and it's truly because this studio and its instructors have opened me up in ways I never dreamed possible.

For those who are newer to yoga, I definitely advise going to a beginner's class first because from there on out there are no class "levels." That being said, the instructors always provide variations on poses so that you can decide how far to push yourself.

• Pros: Fantastic teachers and an incredible yoga community
• Cons: Cons? There are no cons!

06/25/10

real yoga without the fluff

by kymbear

Not sure what the reviewer behind me was talking about. Mark is not inappropriate. (I LOVE the coment someone left for her! Ha ) His adjustments are spot on and he adjust everyone-men and women the same way. "Laratruth" needs to go to an ashtanga class (which is what power yoga is based on) and see what THOSE adjustments are like. If she is so busy noticing what Mark is doing then she isn't really practicing yoga -ie: listening to her breath and being in the present moment. She sounds really bitter or even immature. I do agree-I think the employee she's talking about was his wife.. a lot of people don't know that's his wife.

BUT everyone there is like family and they're always hugging each other all the time. If his wife doesn't have a problem why would anyone else?

moving on...

What I love is ... ALL of his teachers adjust the same way -take his wife's class of Grace! (-amazing!) and you'll find out!. Every teacher sticks to the philosophy that is rare these days-something you'll only find if maybe you travel to India,= No music, no blocks.. just jump in and deal with your ego.

I've been going for 5 yrs now and every time I practice at this beautiful little studio whether it's with Mark, his wife, Beau of any of his amazing teachers my experience has always been the perfect balance of challenging and heartfelt at the same time.

Namaste.

• Pros:  no distractions , great new student deal ($60 month!)
• Cons: parking can be an issue if you're not patient ;)

05/21/10

The Emperor Has No Clothes

by Laratruth

I applaud the women who have the courage to honestly tell what their experience was in Mark's class. I took class with him years ago and found him to be uncomfortably touchy feely with the women in his classes as well as his receptionists. He gave me the creeps so I never went back.

I'd forgotten about it and signed up for classes a couple months ago as the studio was convenient. Within ten minutes of being in his class, I got the same feeling again. I even gave him the benefit of the doubt and went twice more, only to witness him basically dry humping several other girls. Make all the excuses that you want to say that this is "appropriate" in a yoga class context, but I've never seen employers stroking the bodies and kissing the necks of their receptionists as they work. Is that part of a yoga practice?

He is an okay teacher but also has a huge ego. Perhaps it was a Freudian slip to put Mark Blanchard before the word yoga. Isn't yoga supposed to be about the practice, not feeding the ego of an aging Lothario teacher with a big gut?

Those of you that protest too much that Mark's adjustments are "appropriate" & he is a "wonderful" teacher, remember: Denial is not a river in Eqypt.

Other than that, I really liked the other teachers. The only drawback there is that all classes seem to start later than scheduled.

• Pros: Mostly Great teachers
• Cons: The Owner/tardy class times